Etching happens when lines and dents are literally carved into your pool plaster over time. This is caused by improperly balanced pool chemistry, particularly low pH, alkalinity, or calcium, and it's one of the reasons why we emphasize the importance of taking care of your pool correctly.
These etched areas are around aggregate particles, tile inserts and other interfaces and often appear as small spots. As with all chemical or physical action on a surface that is capable of removing or dissolving away elements or compounds of that surface, water chemistry will play a key role in the etching process.
When you are swimming, you would get scratched or roughened when you step out of the pool. Also, you could get scratched or your swimsuit could get torn with the jagged plaster. If it's unpleasant to run your hand along the side of the pool or climb up the stairs then its because your plaster is wearing thin.
A pool with corroded, cracked surfaces will become full of bacteria, fungi, dirt, and decomposing matter. This creates a fertile environment for all kinds of nasty waterborne diseases. Cracked or otherwise damaged pool surfaces will cause water to leak into the surrounding earth.
Resurfacing can repair problems like cracks and wearing, while also enhancing and updating your pool's appearance. While not needed as often as other services, resurfacing should still be on your list of pool maintenance tasks. Here are five reasons it's time to resurface your swimming pool this fall.
A pebble surface is a mixture of hydraulic cement and polished stone pebbles. The finishing goes right after the concrete is applied to the pool. The mixture is applied pneumatically, then hand-wiped or water-blasted to reveal the top layer of pebbles.
It varies depending on the type of pool, with plaster or cement pools needing to be resurfaced every 3-7 years while fiberglass pools can sometimes go as long as 15-30 years.
On Average, Replastering is Every 10 Years
So how often do you need to replaster a pool? The short answer is about every 10 years. However, it's important to consider the factors mentioned above, as they are typical signs that your pool needs to be replastered.
In a nutshell, replastering a pool means putting a new layer of plaster on the walls and bottom. What does plaster do? First, it serves to make your pool waterproof. Kind of important, right? When you had your pool installed, the people who did it likely used either concrete or gunite to form the “shell” of the pool.
PLASTER IS LONG LASTING: The secret to long life of any pool surface is properly maintained water balance. Improper water balance will destroy any pool surface and in many cases, void the warranty of that surface. A plaster surface, in a properly maintained pool, can last 15 to 25 years.
Tile Finishes
Though tile is the most expensive pool finish and takes longer to install than plaster and aggregate, it's the longest lasting pool surface. With proper application and minimal maintenance, tiles should never need to be replaced. Tile pool finishes come in ceramic, porcelain, glass and stone.
Brush the pool twice a day for the first two weeks. This opens the pores of the plaster to allow proper curing as well as removes any loose plaster dust from the surface. You may notice plaster dusting when you brush and the water becomes cloudy. This is normal and will go away with proper treatment and brushing.
Scale formation and staining are caused by the presence of excess minerals in your pool water. Scale buildup is calcium carbonate that solidifies on pool walls and surfaces. It's usually white or tan in color with a rough or gritty texture.
Spot-etching a small portion of the enamel surface before bonding the temporary material in place. In this technique, we only bond to a small portion of enamel in the middle of the facial surface.
How Often to Acid Wash Your Pool. Even though an acid wash will only remove a thin layer of plaster, it's not something you want to do every year. You'd run out of plaster pretty quickly! Every five years or so is sufficient, barring any serious algae bloom problems.
But a properly built Gunite pool can and should last for 100 years or more, with no risk of cracking whatsoever. We've been building Gunite pools for more than 40 years (more than 4000 swimming pools), and we've never had one crack yet.
In general, the ideal temperature for replastering a pool is somewhere between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a fair amount of humidity.
Concrete pools can be made of either shotcrete or gunite. The difference is when the concrete mixes with the water. Shotcrete refers to wet concrete that's already fully mixed before it's shot out of a hose. Gunite is dry concrete mix that only mixes with water at the nozzle when it's sprayed.
Diamond Brite lasts eight to 12 years before it fades and gets spotty. We recommend acid washing this finish after about five years to keep it bright. Each style and color has a different price, but a Diamond Brite finish costs about $5,000 to $10,000.
Concrete pools are formed with shotcrete also referred to as gunite. After the shotcrete cures and hardens, a cementitious coating is coated over the pool shell. Cementitious pool finishes fall into the following categories: White plaster or colored plaster.
Diamond Brite® finishes are blends of selected quartz aggregates and fortified white Portland cement ideal for new or re-finished swimming pools. Diamond Brite® finishes are factory blended to provide the pool owner with an extremely durable and attractive alternative to traditional pool coatings.
Pebble Tec pools are works of stunning beauty that can last for decades. They are an excellent choice for any pool. Once established, they're easy to maintain. Just make sure it's the PebbleTec® brand and not an imitation.
Pebble Tec®
While it is more expensive than plaster, it is the highest quality pool resurfacing material available due to its longevity and ability to hide chemical residue.